Cabbage Greens:

This is the way I dream of cooking fresh home grown vegetables....

1.Fresh from the Garden

2. Never has having a Big head been
a great compliment

3. Washed outer Cabbage Greens

4. Sauted in olive oil with garlic, onion and s/p

Cook as long as you want to achieve desired tenderness,  adding a splash of Apple cider
Vinegar and water to keep them simmering/steaming in a covered pot.

I chopped the cabbage head and saute for Yakasoba dinner the next day

I love Fresh, Simple and Delicious!

Simple snacks

1. Blanch the leave, let them get cool to touch and fill them with your favorite filling

as you would stuffed shells... 

• cooked beans, 
• seasoned Quinua with peppers, 
• brown rice caramelized onions.

2.  Add to a cup of soup

3. Blanch and roll like a log then cut quite thin....add to your salad

How to Blanch ... Granted you can blanch without salt at all...

Ingredients and tools

1 c. Salt

1 Gallon of water

Xtra large bowl filled with edible clean ice and water..

a scooping tool or extra long tongs to fish out the vegetable

• 1 gallon of water to 1 c. of water...Formula I was given....but I use  less salt depending on if I'm consuming the vegetables and paring it with. ...So adjust the salt to your needs.
• Boil the water. 
• Once the water is boiled carefully place the vegetables into the water...

• 2-5 min...while still bright green.
• Place in the ice bath
• Place on paper towels to pat dry
• Place in a pan or prepare to fill.

Recipe Zaar/Food dot com: Granola

Tasty Granola The first time we made this we sort of burnt it, but besides that it tastes awesome esspecially when you add the chocolate chips and nuts... Mmmmm!!! It tastes great as cereal with milk added when it's cooled off.

The original recipe can be found here Original Granola Recipe


Ingredients
3 cups Old Fashioned Oats
1/2 cup olive oil
3/4 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons molasses
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
chocolate chips and peanuts ( as much as you like )

To Make It:
Pour oatmeal into a glass microwaveable dish and cook for two minutes; stirring once. Combine all other ingredients into a bowl. Add in oatmeal.Stir until well blended.

To finish, use either the microwave or oven. Both methods are listed below --

Microwave method: Pour mixture into a glass dish and microwave on high for 4 minutes or until golden brown.Stir every minute.Cool on wax paper.
Enjoy!

OR
Oven method: Pour mixture into a large cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. I'd start watching it after 10. It can burn fast! Stir every 5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of raisins. Cool on wax paper.
Enjoy!

Quick Salsa Soup

This was my go to meal after having my babies...it was soo easy to have already seasoned wrapped chicken breast in the freezer or frigde. All you have to do is add it to the soup, let it simmer and serve.  If you have freezer space, this can be a make ahead and stored in freezer safe containers to prepare at will. More time to spend with the new baby than standing at the stove.


Braised chicken breast ( about 8 ounces or two boneless chicken halves)
1 3/4 c. water
1 3/4 c. (14 1/2 oz. can) reduced fat chicken broth , Once I used the bullion and made the same amount of broth
1- 2 tsp. chili powder
1 1/2 c. frozen corn... the loose kind was suggested in the original recipe... but fresh corn will work excellent too if you have it on hand
1 c. Salsa!!!
1/2 c Pepper jack or your fav. cheese shredded for topping
some tortilla chips!

When the chicken's not cooked I start by prepping the chicken with (optional s/p) and chili powder, braise it in a sauce pan,  then I add it to the water/broth. Bring it to a boil then turn down the heat and simmer covered for 8 min. Add in th corn and cook uncovered until the meat is done(no pink). Stir in the salsa! :D Let that get heated thoroughly. Get out the bowls, spoons and chips.
Serve sprinkled with cheese and a side of chips. Oh boy I Love this soup...yum!
I love when a magazine includes the nutritional facts

Only 190 cal. per serving and 6g total fat(3.5g salt fat), 50 mg chol. 800 mg sodium, 17 g total carb, 2 g fiber, 3 g sugars, 20 g protein. The daily values are 10% vit. A. 8 % vit. C, 10% Calcium, 6% Iron.

taken from The very best baby magazine
try www.verybestbaby.com/recipes

Herb mixes

My favorite seasoning honestly is Salt. Salt is the Base for most savory cuisine and the catalyst for sweets. Sprinkle herbs and Seasoning, then salt plays the supporting role is every bite. When it's too much ... ruine. When it's just the right amount all the other flavors chin and grin, like they're doing all the work!
When I'm working with spices, I feel like a scientist so I experiment a lot :) .

Himalayan Salt Benefits

*Fine Herbs

I have a little herb book that's old but not antique, I keep it because I love the dainty pictures, the recipes and remedies. I also love Mother Earth's Site...Chervil and tarragon.. Check it out and learn about how to use herbs and their benefits.

Suggested uses for this mix:

• omelets and other eggs dishes. 
• I love it for Steamed, Baked or Broiled Talapia...just a little splashed of lemon juice and a sprinkle of salt at the end. mmmm

Other dishes to use Chervil

• green salad
• steamed or boiled beets
• beet salad
• mashed, steamed, boiled, fried or baked potatoes or sweet potatoes

Mix Fine Herbs

1 tsp. chopped fresh chervil

1 tsp. chopped fresh tarragon

1 tsp. chopped fresh chives or scallions.

Mix together the ingredients add at the very end of cooking or if it's an uncooked dish just before serving.

My Bar-b-q seasoning spin on the Neely's

1 1/2 c. paprika (hot)

3/4 c. sugar or brown sugar or a mix of both

3 3/4 Tbsp. garlic powder or Garlic Salt

Mix the seasonings and store for 6 months. 
Makes 2 1/2 c.

Chile-thyme Spice Mix For seasoning potatoes and corn...I'm not sure where I gleaned this recipe from...if someone knows I'd love to post it with this entry, because it's just so good. It looks and sounds like something...Roger Mooking would whip up.

It's like the Old bay seasoning, only rustic/chunky. Almost Everyone Knows Old Bay...to me it's the smell of Baltimore City Harbor. With the old Old Bay factory ... I worked there as a teen one summer, in the mail room. The Smell of Seasonings...I loved coming there everyday! One of my fondest memories.

Makes about 1/4 c.

2 dried chiles de arbol, stemmed

4 tsp. coarse sea salt

4 tsp. finely grated lemon zest

4 tsp. fresh thyme leaves

Chiles de arbol are available at better supermarkets and at Latin Markets

Pulse chiles in a spice grinder until coarsely ground. Transfer ground chiles to a small bowl and add salt. Scatter lemon zest on a 6x6 in. piece of parchment paper and microwave on high for 1 min. Add thyme to parchment and microwave until dry about 1 min. 30 sec.( time will vary). let cool and lightly crush zest and thyme; combine with ground chiles and salt.  Do ahead: Spice mix may be made a week ahead. Store in a airtight container at room temperture.

Vegetarian: A Spiffy Salads or Spicy Tortilla?

Who said salads had to be limited to lettuce and low fat dressings ( even though I like those . . . a lot )? Whenever I think of my Grandmother Ernestine I remember her Waldorf salad, because of her I have some sweet ideas for salads, odd and traditional. Matter of fact your salad can become a rainbow!
#1 - Citrus Rainbow Salad, to make this salad remember Roy G. Biv. Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet.
Begin by adding in crazins (red), mandarin oranges ( orange, obviously ), then shake up lemon juice olive oil and a few spices, for dressing ( 1Tbsp with 1tsp of sugar if you like, ( somewhat yellow ), grape slices ( green), or you could use shredded lettuce :) or the mixed lettuce greens there's purple (with hues of blue and indigo). I also love olives, and julienne purple carrots.